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Ohio soon will ban the ownership and sale of exotic pets under new rules planned in the state, the result of an agreement between farm groups and animal advocates to drop an animal-welfare initiative from the November ballot. Prohibited animals will include "big cats, bears, primates, large constricting and venomous snakes and alligators and crocodiles," except current pets.

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Ohio exotic-animal owners are appealing a court ruling that upheld the state's exotic-animal ownership law. The state requires owners of exotic animals to obtain a permit, pay fees, submit to a background check, obtain insurance and more.

Officials from zoos and aquariums in Ohio generally support a bill to restrict ownership of exotic animals, although some say the measure doesn't go far enough. Zoo representatives object to a provision that exempts members of the Zoological Association of America from the ban; they're also calling for stricter rules for people who keep and breed snakes.

The increase in demand for Buggs, Labradoodles and other so-called "designer" pets has spurred an increase in animals that suffer and are ultimately euthanized when their owners can't pay the medical bills for the conditions many of these breeds are prone to, say veterinarians and animal-welfare workers in Ottawa, Canada. "It's frustrating. People think they're neat, but they don't realize some of the medical problems associated with those breeds and so then they get in over their head with bills," said veterinarian Jane Gates.

A bill that seeks to regulate exotic animals in Florida cleared the state House on Wednesday. The measure, which will go to the governor's office for signing, would outlaw the ownership of Burmese pythons and six other non-native reptiles in the state as pets.

Pets sold in parking lots or on street corners may be ill or mistreated and should not be purchased, say animal advocates in California. The warning comes after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill supported by animal-welfare groups that would have outlawed the sale of animals in places including parking lots, public streets or carnivals.